The ORLFC Foundation has officially launched after achieving charitable status, marking a significant step in its mission to use rugby league for social good across Oldham. The foundation focuses on education, health, and social inclusion, aiming to inspire and empower residents through sport-based initiatives.

Substantial progress has already been made. Over £100,000 has been invested in upgrading the Netpar Training Centre on Fields New Road, transforming it into a community hub that operates seven days a week. The foundation has expanded its pathway programme for young players from under-11s to under-18s, and a new educational academy with Oldham College is set to launch in September, allowing students to combine studies with rugby league development.

Chris Chamberlain, CEO of the ORLFC Foundation, described the charitable status as a major milestone. "It validates the purpose behind everything we are working to achieve and allows us to take our ambitions further," he said. He acknowledged Oldham's challenges but highlighted its potential: "Oldham is a borough that faces real challenges, with deep-rooted deprivation and inequality, but it is also a place full of opportunity, resilience, and potential. Too often it receives negative attention, yet through the power of sport we can change that narrative – bringing positivity, pride, and hope back into the community."

Chamberlain emphasised the importance of collaboration. "We believe that by working collectively, not in isolation, we can make a meaningful difference. Rugby league, and the growth of the Roughyeds, shows what’s possible when people come together with a shared purpose. By harnessing that momentum through a charitable foundation, we can go further – tackling social inequalities, improving health and wellbeing, strengthening community cohesion, and creating real pathways for social mobility."

John Townsend, chair of the ORLFC Foundation, highlighted that charitable status opens up new funding opportunities. "As a charitable organisation, it will be eligible to apply for a much greater number of grants than previously, thereby increasing the potential social impact that the foundation can have on the various communities within Oldham," he said.

The foundation's work builds on partnerships with key supporters and aims to create opportunities through volunteering, education, and employment. With upgraded facilities at Netpar Training Centre and new programmes, the ORLFC Foundation is positioned to make a lasting difference, using sport as a force for positive change across the borough.